Modular construction for bathrooms

ABSTRACT

A construction for a bathroom or powder room within which plumbing fixtures are to be enclosed and supported upon or above a floor for providing an attractive room interior and flexibility of location of plumbing accessories. The bathroom includes: a peripheral track secured to the floor and positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, and at least four wall panels, two of which are end-wall panels and at least two of which are side-wall panels. All of the panels are fabricated of a moldable shape-sustaining material, such as plastic. The bottom edge of each panel has a continuous extruded bracket mounted thereto for matingly engaging said track for positioning and restraining the lower portion of the wall panels. Each panel is provided with two generally upright edges which extend transverse to the plane of the bottom edge. These upright edges are of substantially the same size so as to permit alignment thereof and interlocking bracket means are mounted to each upright edge for releasably interlocking said panels. A ceiling panel, substantially of the same size and shape as the peripheral track, can be mounted to the upper edges of the plurality of the wall panels. In order to provide the desired decorative and structural effects the wall panels may be provided with an intended subportion or recess which may be decorated with adhesive-backed wall covering. These recesses also provide shoulders on which various devices which find utility in a bathroom can be mounted.

I United States Patent 91 Litvin et al.

[ Oct. 16, 1973 [75] Inventors: Robert L. Litvin, Chicago; Giorgio I. Spadaro, Evanson, both of 111.

[73] Assignees: Robert L. Litvin; Louis L. Marine,

both of Chicago, 111.; part interest to each [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 243,614

52 US. Cl 52/205, 52/35 52/241,

Primary Examiner.lohn E. Murtagh Attorney-Norman Lettvin [57] ABSTRACT A construction for a bathroom or powder room within which plumbing fixtures are to be enclosed and supported upon or above a floor for providing an attractive room interior and flexibility of location of plumbing accessories. The bathroom includes: a peripheral track secured to the floor and positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, and at least four wall panels, two of which are end-wall panels and at least two of which are side-wall panels. All of the panels are fabricated of a moldable shape-sustaining material, such as plastic. The bottom edge of each panel has a continuous extruded bracket mounted thereto for matingly engaging said track for positioning and restraining the lower portion of the wall panels. Each panel is provided with two generally upright edges which extend transverse to the plane of the bottom edge. These upright edges are of substantially the same size so as to permit alignment thereof and interlocking bracket means are mounted to each upright edge for releasably interlocking said panels. A ceiling panel, substantially of the same size and shape as the peripheral track, can be mounted to the upper edges of the plurality of the wall panels.

In order to provide the desired decorative and structural effects the wall panels may be provided with an intended sub-portion or recess which may be decorated with adhesive-backed wall covering. These recesses also provide shoulders on which various devices which find utility in a bathroom can be mounted.

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MODULAR CONSTRUCTION FOR BATHROOMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improvement in bathroom and powder room constructions.

In the remodeling of homes or apartments, probably the most expensive room is the bathroom or powder room. One important reason for the large expense is the complexity of construction of the room and the accompanying spiraling cost of the specialized tradesmen.

Faced with the foregoing problem others have heretofore suggested the construction of modular bathrooms that may be subassembled in whole or in part in a factory, using less expensive labor, after which the subassembly that may include the plumbing fixtures is shipped to the site for installation as an inlay to the cavity adapted to receive the subassembly.

One major disadvantage of such subassembly is that it is three dimensional and occupies great space, so that there is substantial cost of shipping such a subassembly to the site and in installing it, since specialized equipment may be necessary. Another disadvantage is relative inability to provide flexibility in design or layout of the accessories in the bathroom, since the housewife is frequently sold" on a house or apartment by the bathroom arrangement, custom-made layouts or designs are of great importance to the builder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a modular type of bathroom construction that lends itself to flexibility of layout and decorative interior design, while at the same time providing component construction that is almost modular in concept in that the walls of the room may be prepackaged and shipped as a unit occupying relatively little space to a construction site for rapid and relatively inexpensive installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By virtue of this invention, there is provided a modular bathroom which can be constructed substantially entirely from aplurality of preformed wall panels. Ex-

truded floor tracks and mating adaptors that attach to the bottom edge of each wall panel provide means for field assembly. One or more ceiling panels for the modular room may be optionally used. A re-usable gasket provides'both for selective assembly and disassembly of adjacent wall panels as well as providing desired seal and insulation properties. The construction is easily erected by unskilled personnel and may be shipped in the flat or knocked-down" condition, thereby using only a minimum amount of shipping space. Each panel may be provided with one or more indented subportions or recesses which strengthen the panels as well as permitting various decorative effects to be achieved. The modular construction provides for different bathroom layouts and for bathrooms of different sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front perspective view of the interior of a typical rectangular bathroom constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bathroom similar to that shown in FIG. 1, and showingone alternate arrangement of the entry door opening to the bathroom;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view that also shows in elevation the back side-wall of the bathroom shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view substantially along line 4-4 in FIG. 3 showing one arrangement for mounting a ceiling panel to the upper edges of the wall panels;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view substantially along line 5-5 in FIG. 3 showing details of the floor-mounted track, the panel-mounted adaptor to the track, and the gasket arrangement used in securing the lower portion of a side-Wall panel relative to the floor;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 in FIG. 3 and illustrating details of'the panel'mounted adaptor and gasket connection between portions of adjacent panels;

FIG. 7 is a reduced top plan view of a ceiling panel that may be provided for a bathroom of the shape shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8 13, inclusive, are reduced elevational views of the inner side of the six different panels shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, starting with the left end panel and progressing clockwise around the room as seen in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 14 17, inclusive, are fragmentary views taken substantially along the respective numbered lines shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 for purposes of illustrating typical surface arrangements and transitions from edges of wall panels to recesses of different shapes that may be located in the inner surfaces of the wall panels;

FIG. 18 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a wall panel showing the preferred construction of the back side ofa panel that is to have a panel of wall board or plaster board secured thereto;

FIG. 19 depicts an optional rectangular bathroom arrangement having a left-hand side entrance with a lavatory, water closet and bathtub arranged in a left-toright configuration;

FIG. 20 depicts a powder room arrangement having a left-hand entrance and water closet and corner lavatory arranged as shown; and

FIG. 21 depicts a larger bathroom than shown in FIG. 1 but formed with panels of the type disclosed and illustrating therein provision for a bathtub, water closet, lavatory and shower stall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a typical bathroom 10, generally, constructed in accordance with this invention. (The front wall panels of the bathroom are not shown in this view for ease of illustration and explanation). The bathroom includes a water closet 12, vanity 14 in which is mounted a lavatory l6, and a bathtub 18. The structural features of the bathroom include a ceiling 20 and side and end wall panels. There is a left end-wall panel 22 which is mounted to the floor 24 and which extends the entire width of the left-hand wall. The back wall of the bathroom is formed by a large side-wall panel 26 and an adjacent small sidewall panel 28. A right end wall panel 30 forms the righthand wall of the bathroom adjacent the bathtub. Each of the panels shown has a recess for decorative and strengthening purposes. The end panel 22 and large side panel 26 have single recesses 32 and 34, respectively; while the side panel 28 and the right-hand end panel 30 are provided with double recesses 36 and 38, respectively. In the right-hand panel 30 there is also provided a soap dish recess 40 at the bottom of the double recess 38.

The single and double recesses as shown herein can be covered with a decorative film or adhesive backed material to achieve the desired decorative effects; furthermore, various holders and devices such as paper holders, medicine chests, mirrors, towel racks, etc., can be mounted to the panels within the recesses.

The panels themselves are fabricated by molding. One suggested form is to provide a dense, but relative to the thickness of the panel, thin skin, or shell 41 that presents a dished configuration and is formed of a fiberglass and polyester resin mixture. The bottom of the dished shell is arranged to provide the finished surface that serves as one of the inner surfaces of the bathroom, while the flange of the dished shell provides means to which certain adaptor extrusions may be secured as seen in FIGS. and 6. The front, or inner, surface and all adjacent edges of the panel are preferably provided with a finished appearance while the back may be substantially unfinished. The fiberglass and polyester mixture provides a surface for the panel which is durable and which may be readily molded to accommodate various shapes. To provide for the panel the properties of a sound insulation barrier, increased rigidity and strength, but light weight, and fire retardation character, the back side of the skin is filled with a polyurethane foam backing 43 as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 also illustrates details ofa floor mounted track means and a panel-carried adaptor means that are arranged to interfit for purposes of locating and positioning the lower portion of each panel with respect to the floor. The track means include a floor mounted, extruded, aluminum track 42 which defines a longitudinally extending and upwardly open channel 44, generally. An extruded adaptor or bracket means 50 of a somewhat resilient plastic is mounted to the bottom edge of the wall paneland includes depending flanges 46 and 48 which are adapted to be received in the channel 44. Both the adaptor and track are each provided with a similarly-shaped, and longitudinallyextending constricted-locking channel 52 and 54 which releasably receives portions of an elongated and extruded resilient interlocking trim and gasket member 56. The coaction of the floor mounted track 42, the adaptor 50 and the gasket 56 position the wall panel with respect to the floor.

The floor mounted track 42 is substantially of the same width as the thickness of the panel 26 thereabove and said track includes spaced upwardly extending elongated ribs 43a and 43b that bound channel 44 and a plurality of elongated supporting bars or feet 58 that are arranged to rest on the floor. In the event the floor is not level, the track may be leveled by the laterally positioned leveling screws 60 which enter the cast floor and which also operate to hold track 42 in position. The track 42 is further secured to the floor by setting the feet 58 into an adhesive bonding agent which will adhere to both the floor and the feet 58. An additional feature which is integral with the track is box-like section 62 having a laterally opening edge .that is adapted to receive and grippingly hold a rolled edge ofa piece of carpeting 64 as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 5. The box section 62 includes a lower, inclined, inwardly extending section 620 having an upturned gripping rib 62b with a sharpened, or acute edge, and an upper, inclined section 620 of lesser inward extension than section 62a and with a rounded bulb 62d at the inner edge thereof which together with rib 62b defines a constricted longitudinal slot through which a section of carpeting may be forced to effect a gripping of the carpeting by the extrusion sections. The locking channel 54 is positioned above the box-like section 62 and in a position that opens toward the inside of the room.

The adaptor bracket 50 which is of lesser width than track 42 or of panel 26 is an extrusion of a semi-rigid but somewhat resilient plastic material and is provided with an elongated body 51 having a plurality of elongated grooves 51a in the side thereof that is to engage the shell 41 of the wall panel. An elongated and overhanging flange 51b is integrally connected to body 51 but is spaced therefrom to define an elongated slot 63 that is adapted to receive thereinto a portion of the edge of shell 41. In the formation of a panel, after shell 41 is formed, the adaptor 50 is secured thereto by entering an edge portion of shell 41 into slot 63 and then the two parts are permanently secured together by filling the back of shell 41 with polyurethane foam 43 so that when the foam sets up it holds the adaptor 50 in position at the panels bottom edge. The grooves 51a are adapted to receive thereinto an adhesive bonding agent that further secures adaptor 50 to shell 41.

The extruded adaptor 50 includes the elongated depending flanges 46 and 48 which resiliently engage the inner walls of channel defining ribs 430 and 43b on track 42. The adaptor 50 is also provided with a downwardly facing shoulder 66 which engages the upper edge of the tracks inner rib 43b, while the lower edge of flange 48 directly engages the track 42 as seen in FIG. 5.

The adaptor 50 is provided with a longitudinally extending constricted locking channel 52 forwardly of the flange 46. The adaptor locking channel 52 and the track locking channel 54 are arranged to be positioned adjacent one another so that they may be interlocked by a sealing gasket 56 as described hereinafter. The locking channels have a generally circular cross-section and have an arcuate extent of greater than 180 so as to provide a restricted opening. The resilient gasket and locking member 56 is an extruded, flexible and resilient member of rubber or plastic that in crosssection, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, has a pair of lobe-like elongated projections arranged to matingly enter, engage and grip the locking channels 52 and 54. In order to lock the track and adaptor together the projections of the gasket 56 are press fit into the channels 52 and 54 through the restricted slot-like openings. These gaskets position the track and adaptor with respect to one another and also provide a moistureproof seal between the interior of the room and the exterior thereof. The exterior shape of gasket 56 is faired with a concave curve 56a to blend with adjacent surfaces of the panel and floor track.

The positioning of the side edges of the panels with respect to one another is accomplished by means of brackets or adaptors as shown at 68 in FIG. 6. The arrangement 68 includes two identical extruded members 70 and 72 formed of resilient plastic and respectively secured to side edges 74 and 76 in the same manner that the adaptor 50 is secured to the bottom edge of the panel. That is, the shape of members 70 and 72 provides for attachment of those members to the edge of the shell 41 before the panels are completed by introduction of the polyurethane foam 43 and for additional securement a plurality of longitudinally extending channels 711a and 720 are provided which can be filled with an adhesive for further bonding the respective brackets to the side walls.

Since there may be variations in spacing between adjacent edges of adjacent panels it is necessary to provide means to accommodate such variations. Accordingly the members 70 and 72 are each provided with portions that cooperate with similar portions on the other member to effect a resilient seal but nevertheless a connection therebetween. Thus, considering one such member in cross-section, the extrusion 70 is shaped to provide outwardly extending, spaced flexible flanges 79 and 31 which extend transversely from body member 78 in which the channels 70a are provided. The outermost ends of flanges 79 and 81 join to a concaved abutment wall 82 that is of a width to bridge the spacing between flanges 79 and 81 and to be cantilevered beyond the two connections or supports provided by said flanges 79 and 81. It will be seen that the four members 78, 79, 81, and 82 surround a hollow core 84 that extends the length of the extrusion 70. The cantilevered ends 82a and 82b of abutment wall 82 are adapted to engage similar parts on the oppositely facing extrusion 72 and the concave face 820 is then arranged, as seen in FIG. 6, to partially bound a cavity 85 that is provided between the abutting portions of extrusions 7t) and 72. It will be readily recognized that the foregoing construction provides an accordion-type effect which provides a resiliency to accommodate'compression to accommodate varying spacing between panels and at the same time provides gasketing and a soundinsulating effect, while the concaved abutment wall 82 also provides a construction detail that tends to maintain portions of the extrusions 70 and 72in contact with each even against a force tending to separate the two extrusions. Finally, the edge of the extrusion 70 facing inwardly of the room is elongated at 86 and is provided with a constricted longitudinal locking channel 86a of substantially the same general shape as channels 52 and 54, so that a flexible elongated sealing gasket 911 may be attached between a. pair of adjacent panels by means of longitudinal locking lobe-like projections 92 that enter such channels 86a.

The connection between the ceiling panel and the wall panel 26 is made by means of a step-shaped bracket 92 as seen in FIG. 4. The bracket 92 is mounted to the top edge of panel 26 along the inner portion thereof and extends forwardly of the panel into the bathroom. Ceiling support or step-shaped brackets 92 are provided in association with each of the wall panels so as to completely support the ceiling.

Turning now to the room arrangement and the various panels which comprise the typical room reference will be had to FIG. 2 and FIGS. 7 13. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bathroom shown in FIG. 1 with the front wall section of the bathroom included. The front wall section includes the small side wall panel 94 at one end of the bathtub l8 and a large side wall panel 96 having a doorway 98 therein. It will be understood that all connections between the adjacent panels in FIG. 2 are made in accordance with the bracket and gasket means as shown in FIG. 6.

The bathroom 111 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 includes the panels and ceiling as shown in FIGS. 7 13. The left-hand end wall 22 is shown in FIG. 8 and the right-hand wall as shown in FIG. 11 may be essentially identical except for the shape of the respective recesses 32 and 38. Both panels are provided with transverse upright or abutment edges which in effect turn a corner so as to present such upright or abutment edges located in a plane forwardly of the plane of the panel. In order to provide for standardization, the end paneis are 61% inches wide. The large side panels 26 and 96, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 13 are similarly of the standard 61%: inches width but includes different features. The large side wall panel 26 is shown provided with the single centrally positioned recess 34 while the front wall side panel 96 is provided with the entrance way 98 as well as the small recess 100. A towel rack or bar 102 may be mounted to the panel 96 within the recess 100. It will be appreciated that numerous other types of bathroom accessories such as medicine cabinets, tissue dispensers, soap dishes and the like may be mounted within the various recesses and to the shoulders provided thereby. Thus, it is contemplated that a bathroom medicine cabinet will be mounted in either recess 32 or 34 of panels 22 and 26.

The front and back small side wall panels 28 and 94 are depicted in FIGS. 10 and 12. These panels are essentially mirror images of one another and would be identical except that the respective recesses 36 and 104 are offset from the vertical center line of the panel. These panels are each 33 inches wide, and thus may be used substantially interchangeably.

The ceiling 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 includes an opening or aperture 103 for receiving an elongated lighting fixture. The ceiling fixture is optional since lighting fixtures may be wall mounted or provided in association with a medicine cabinet. As can be seen from FIG. 3 the ceiling may have a concave-shape for esthetic reasons.

Once the room is constructed various of the panels may be selectively removed to provide access to plumbing lines or for replacement of the entire panel. For example, if the left-hand end wall panel 22 is to be removed the wall bracket gaskets corresponding to those shown in FIG. 6 are removed, as well as the floor locking gaskets corresponding to that shown in FIG. 5. The ceiling is lifted upwardly and the panel 22 is lifted upwardly so as to disengage the adaptor from the peripheral track and the panel is then removed. After the wall panel 22 has been removed the ceiling is lowered onto the brackets of the remaining erected walls.

One advantage to rooms constructed in this manner is that many brands and models of plumbing fixtures may be utilized. For example, either a floor or wall mounted water closet may be used. Furthermore, in the event that the plumbing lines are to extend through the wall, the openings for these lines may be cut on the site to accommodate the various different fixtures.

In addition to the decorative advantages of the recesses such as 32, 34 and 36, the recesses also provide a strengthening feature. Plates or panels provided with an appropriate recess are known to be stronger than flat plates of the same thickness; and it is preferred that the recesses be provided with rounded edges or fillets which blend smoothly with the panel. The recess 34 is blended in the panel 26 by a pair of smooth curves as shown in FIG. 14. The double recess 36 is blended to the panel 26 in a similar manner. FIGS. 16 and 17 show the blending of the recesses and the vertical side edges of the panels 26 and 28. The blending of the recesses as shown has an additional advantage in that once a wall covering is applied to the recess the edges of the wall covering are not exposed and are thus protected from peeling.

The panels described herein may be used either for original construction or in the remodeling of a bathroom. In FIG. 18 panel 105 is shown in which wood or metal channel framing members are molded into the polyurethane filler at the back on the unfinished side of the panel. In one form the panel includes a series of riblike projections 106 which extend for the height of the panel and each of which carries a wood or aluminum framing member, such as 108. These framing members permit a wall board or other wall forming material to be nailed or otherwise secured to the back of the preformed panel so as to provide the finished wall for the adjacent room. For example, if a bathroom and a bedroom were to be adjacent one another and separated by a wall panel such as in FIG. 18, the wall board for the bedroom could be nailed to the framing members embedded in the unfinished side of the bathroom panel. In the event that this was not the desired method of construction the back of the panel could be formed fiat, without the integral framing members, as shown in FIGS. 2 or 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 19, 20 and 21, other room arrangements are shown. In these figures panels and fixtures similar to those in FIGS. 1 through 18 will bear the same reference numeral but have a lower case letter thereafter. For example, in FIG. 19 a bathroom is provided with a water closet 120, a bathtub 18a and a vanity 14a having a lavatory bowl 16a therein. The major difference between the layout of FIG. I9 and that of FIG. 2 is that the water closet and the vanity have been reversed in position. A powder room is shown in FIG. 20 which has only a water closet 12b and a wall mounted lavatory bowl 16b. In this arrangement the two end walls 22b are identical, and the back side wall 26b and the front entry wall 96b are identical with those in FIG. 2.

Where it is desired to provide a larger bathroom having both a shower and tub, an arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 21 can be used. There the tub 18c is provided in a recess defined by the wall panels 28c, 30c and 94c. The shower stall 110 is defined by side wall panels 280 and 940, an end wall panel 30c and a pair of sliding shower enclosing doors 112. A double vanity 14c and the water closet 120 are positioned along the side walls which correspond to 20c. The end wall 220 and the entry wall 960 are identical with the corresponding walls of the bathroom shown in FIG. 2.

Based on the descriptions provided hereinabove it can readily be seen that other fixture and room arrangements and different size bathrooms can be constructed using the basic end wall, large side wall and small side wall panels. Thus, a great degree of flexibility is provided in the design, manufacture and construction of bathrooms made in accordance with this invention.

A bathroom 10, such as shown in FIG. 1 is assembled in the following manner. The floor track 42 is located and leveled; the side wall panels corresponding to 26, 28, 94 and 96 are then erected followed by the erection of the end wall panels 22 and 30 and the insertion of the appropriate interlocking gaskets into the corresponding brackets. If a ceiling such as 20 is to be used it is the final member to be installed.

It will be understood that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a construction of a bathroom or lavatory wherein plumbing fixtures are to be enclosed and to be supported upon or above a floor so as to provide an attractive and decorative room interior, and affording flexibility of location of plumbing accessories and selectivity of access to supply and waste piping for the plumbing accessories, the improvement comprising, in combination: a substantially continuous floor mountable peripheral track means; a plurality of substantially planar panels to serve as walls for the room including two end wall panels and at least two side wall panels, each panel having a lower edge thereof adapted to be positioned in aligned relation to said peripheral track means; longitudinally extending locating means provided along said lower edge of the panel arranged to locatingly cooperate with said floor track means; each of the wall panels being generally of a rectangular construction with relatively narrow edges and fabricated of a moldable shape-sustaining material with at least one rectangular face of the panel finished to provide a decorative effect, said finished decorative side of the panel having at least one sub-portion thereof indented relative to the remainder of the side to provide shoulder means thereon that provides a mounting space on the panel for decorative or utilitarian bathroom accessories; each panel having two upright edges thereon that extend transverse to the plane of the said lower edge, said upright edges being of substantially the same size to afford substantial aligned relation between the transverse upright edges of each pair of adjacent panels; and means for releasably interlocking pairs of adjacent panels in aligned relation with respect to each other.

2. A construction as in claim 1 wherein said peripheral track means includes spaced upwardly extending longitudinal elements, and said longitudinally extending means along the lower edge of the panel interfittingly cooperates with said upwardly extending elements of the peripheral track means for releasably interlocking each panel with the track means and substantially in edgewise adjacent relation with adjacent panels.

3. A construction as in claim 2 wherein at least one of said peripheral track means and the longitudinally extending means on the panel is an extrusion.

4. A construction as in claim 2 wherein each of said track means and said longitudinally extending lower edges is provided with a constricted locking channel means which extends longitudinally thereof, said locking channels being arranged to be positioned toward the finished rectangular face of said panel and adjacent each other when said track means and said longitudinally extending means are in engagement, and there being further provided elongated gasket-andinterlocking means which include a pair of longitudinally extending lobe-like projections, each shaped and arranged to engage one of said locking channels for maintaining said interfitting cooperation.

5. A construction as in claim 2 wherein there is further provided bracket means mounted to each of said upright edges for abutting interconnection to assure said aligned relation of said panels, each of said edge bracket means includes a constricted locking channel which extends longitudinally of said bracket means and is arranged to be positioned toward the finished rectangular face of said panel and adjacent the channel of an abutting bracket, and there being further provided elongated gasket-and-interlocking means which includes a pair of longitudinally extending lobe-like projections each shaped and arranged to engage one of said locking channels so as to interconnect a pair of abutting brackets and maintain said panels in aligned relation.

6. A construction as in claim 1 wherein each of said panels includes a surface layer or skin which consists essentially of a fiberglass-polyester resin mixture and a filler portion adjacent said layer which defines the body and unfinished surfaces of said panel and consists essentially of foamed polyurethane.

7. A construction as in claim 6 wherein the back surface of said panel is flat and unfinished.

8. A construction as in claim 6 wherein said panel is further provided with a plurality of elongated framing members embedded in said filler portion and which extend transverse to said lower edge.

9. A construction as in claim 8 wherein the back surface of said panels is unfinished and provided with a plurality of elongated rib-like projections which extend rearwardly of said panel and transverse to said lower edge and there being a framing member being embedded and disposed within each of said projections.

10. A construction as in claim 1 wherein the two upright edges on each end wall are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of a bathtub.

11. A construction as in claim 1 wherein the two upright edges on the end wall are located in a plane spaced from the plane of the finished decorative side of the end wall panel and fillets are provided between said decorative side and upright edges to provide on each end wall panel two corners that serve as corners of the room.

12. A construction as in claim 1 wherein there is further provided at least one ceiling panel and means for interconnecting the ceiling panel with a plurality of said wall panels at the upper edge thereof to support the ceiling panel from the wall panels of the room.

13. A construction as in claim 12 wherein there is only one ceiling panel and the peripheral edge of said ceiling panel is substantially congruent with the shape of the peripheral track means.

14. A construction as in claim 12 wherein said ceiling interconnecting means comprise step-shaped bracket means mounted to said upper edges of said panels to receive and carry said ceiling.

15. A construction as in claim 1 wherein said indented sub-portion is a strengthening recess and smooth curved surfaces are provided to blend said recess to the remainder of said panel.

16. A construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said panels is provided with a doorway. l 

1. In a construction of a bathroom or lavatory wherein plumbing fixtures are to be enclosed and to be supported upon or above a floor so as to provide an attractive and decorative room interior, and affording flexibility of location of plumbing accessories and selectivity of access to supply and waste piping for the plumbing accessories, the improvement comprising, in combination: a substantially continuous floor mountable peripheral track means; a plurality of substantially planar panels to serve as walls for the room including two end wall panels and at least two side wall panels, each panel having a lower edge thereof adapted to be positioned in aligned relation to said peripheral track means; longitudinally extending locating means provided along said lower edge of the panel arranged to locatingly cooperate with said floor track means; each of the wall panels being generally of a rectangular construction with relatively narrow edges and fabricated of a moldable shapesustaining material with at least one rectangular face of the panel finished to provide a decorative effect, said finished decorative side of the panel having at least one sub-portion thereof indented relative to the remainder of the side to provide shoulder means thereon that provides a mounting space on the panel for decorative or utilitarian bathroom accessories; each panel having two upright edges thereon that extend transverse to the plane of the said lower edge, said upright edges being of substantially the same size to afford substantial aligned relation between the transverse upright edges of each pair of adjacent panels; and means for releasably interlocking pairs of adjacent panels in aligned relation with respect to each other.
 2. A construction as in claim 1 wherein said peripheral track means includes spaced upwardly extending longitudinal elements, and said longitudinally extending means along the lower edge of the panel interfittingly cooperates with said upwardly extending elements of the peripheral track means for releasably interlocking each panel with the track means and substantially in edgewise adjacent relation with adjacent panels.
 3. A construction as in claim 2 wherein at least one of said peripheral track means and the longitudinally extending means on the panel is an extrusion.
 4. A construction as in claim 2 wherein each of said track means and said longitudinally extending lower edges is provided with a constricted locking channel means which extends longitudinally thereof, said locking channels being arranged to be positioned toward the finished rectangular face of said panel and adjacent each other when said track means and said longitudinally extending means are in engagement, and there being further provided elongated gasket-and-interlocking means which include a pair of longitudinally extending lobe-like projections, each shaped and arranged to engage one of said locking channels for maintaining said interfitting cooperation.
 5. A construction as in claim 2 wherein there is further provided bracket means mounted to each of said upright edges for abutting interconnection to assure said aligned relation of said panels, each of said edge bracket means includes a constricted locking channel which extends longitudinally of said bracket means and is arranged to be positioned toward the finished rectangular face of said panel and adjacent the channel of an abutting bracket, and there being further provided elongated gasket-and-interlocking means which includes a pair of longitudinally extending lobe-like projections each shaped and arranged to engage one of said locking channels so as to interconnect a pair of abutting brackets and maintain said panels in aligned relation.
 6. A construction as in claim 1 wherein each of said panels includes a surface layer or skin which consists essentially of a fiberglass-polyester resin mixture and a filler portion adjacent said layer which defines the body and unfinished surfaces of said panel and consists essentially of foamed polyurethane.
 7. A construction as in claim 6 wherein the back surface of said panel is flat and unfinished.
 8. A construction as in claim 6 wherein said panel is further provided with a plurality of elongated framing members embedded in said filler portion and which extend transverse to said lower edge.
 9. A construction as in claim 8 wherein the back surface of said panels is unfinished and provided with a plurality of elongated rib-like projections which extend rearwardly of said panel and transverse to said lower edge and there being a framing member being embedded and disposed within each of said projections.
 10. A construction as in claim 1 wherein the two upright edges on each end wall are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of a bathtub.
 11. A construction as in claim 1 wherein the two upright edges on the end wall are located in a plane spaced from the plane of the finished decorative side of the end wall panel and fillets are provided between said decorative side and upright edges to provide on each end wall panel two corners that serve as corners of the room.
 12. A construction as in claim 1 wherein there is further provided at least one ceiling panel and means for interconnecting the ceiling panel with a plUrality of said wall panels at the upper edge thereof to support the ceiling panel from the wall panels of the room.
 13. A construction as in claim 12 wherein there is only one ceiling panel and the peripheral edge of said ceiling panel is substantially congruent with the shape of the peripheral track means.
 14. A construction as in claim 12 wherein said ceiling interconnecting means comprise step-shaped bracket means mounted to said upper edges of said panels to receive and carry said ceiling.
 15. A construction as in claim 1 wherein said indented sub-portion is a strengthening recess and smooth curved surfaces are provided to blend said recess to the remainder of said panel.
 16. A construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said panels is provided with a doorway. 